THE ODDFELLOWS' FETE, BOXING DAY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 257, 2 January 1873, Page 5

THE ODDFELLOWS' FETE, BOXING DAY.

Trains conveyed visitors to the fete (which j was held in a paddock lent by Messrs Oliver and Proudfoot, situate closely contiguous to the line, and a mile below Burkes brewery), from as early as nine o'clock this morning, aud continued running the whole day. Between three and four, there were close J upon 2700 persons on the ground, which was j admirably suited for the purpose, possessing, as it does, plenty of level ground, good water frontage, and well-sbaded gullies, and some bush. At noou, the Governor, accompanied by Lady Bowen and her two daughters, his Honor the Superintendent, Major Pitt, A. D. C, and Capt. Machell, arrived at the railway station, where they were recei vedby Messrß Oliver and Proudfoot, who were introduced to his Excellency by tha Hon. Mr Reynolds. The promoters couducted his Excellency to the first-class carriage in readiness for him, and they, at his request, accompanied the viceregal party to the scene of thepic-nic, where, on arrival, his Excellency was received by the B.H. P.G.M. Bro. F. Beissel and the other officers of tbe district. A line was formed by the Oddfellows and visitors, through which his Excellency and party passed (preceded by the band, playing the National Anthem) to a tent provided for the occasion. A circle was then formed, and " Rule Brittania" was BUDg by a number of tbe brethren, the band accompanying. The P.G.M. then addressed his Excellency :— I have been requested to express the pleasure felt by the membersof the M.U.1.0.0.F., which I represent iv being honored by the presence of your Excellency and Lady Bowen at our gathering. I desire to offer your Excellency the hearty thanks of the members of the Fete Committee fpr the ready and favorable response iziyentp the request conveyed by his Honor the Superintendent, $hat you would so honor us on this occasion. I beg & inform your Excellency that on each recurring Boxing Day we have some «uch meeting as the present, the profit accruing from these fetes being wholly devoted to charitable purposes, either in connection wMi oui Sooiety or in assisting local charities. On behalf of the members, I desire to convey to your Excellency the assurance of our loyal attachment to the throne, person, and Government of our Most Gracious Sovereign the Queen. We earnestly hope that in the new and larger sphere of duty to which you have been called, that your Excell ncy and Lady Bhwen will enfoy every earthly blessing, and that your Excellency will be enabled to adininistr the affairs of the important Colony to which you are shortly to proceed in such a manner as to rebouud to the honor of your gxoepney and the promotion of the prosperity of that great dependency of the Empire. " To which His ExcEU-BNcy replied as follows :—,: — , Gentlemen,— l thank you heartily for the kind sentiments which have just been so well expressed towards Lady Bowen and myself. B»t this is no novelty, for the great Association to whifih you belong has always and everywhere been celebrated for loyalty to the Crown, and for respect and courtesy to its representatives. I take an active interest in the progress of those benefit societies formed by and for tb/jßritish people, of which the Manchester Ui^cy is the chief. From a small beginning, in a single town of Lancashire, iv 1812, the Manchester Unity has spread itself in the course of sixty years not only throughout the British Islands, but also over every portion of the British Empire. From a recent address of your Grand Master to the central governing body in England, I find that your reserved capital now exceeds three millions sterling j and that your yearly revenue exceeds L 700,000, .Of which the greater portion is annually expended among the members chiefly in sick rejief,. Your Society in without exception the. most extensive self -governed provident institution in, the world. Next in importance to the Manchester Uiiity ranks the Order of Foresters, which, I am glad to know, is also firmly established in New Zealand, 'Jhe Friendly Societies, amongst which tike Jfcwp above mentioned take the foremost pjacej exercise an amount of influence which it would be du]|culs to over-estimate. It is certainly a striking fact tha£ more than four millions of world men— representing an aggregate of above fifteen millions of pur raceshould have spontaneously organised themselves in voluntary associations, for the purpose of mutual support, in those times of distress which must occasionally overtake all families. AH institutions which are calculated to foster habits of industry, self-reliance, and selfrespect amongst the mass of the population of every country, are eminently worthy of public encouragement. Once more, gentlemen, I thank you all ; and I pray fpr the continued success of your Society, and for the general triumph of the noble principles of " Friendship, Loy.e, and Truth," which form your motto. The National Anthem was again sung, and the large assemblage, at the Superintendent's request, gave X three hearty cheers for the Queen, which were followed by cheers for his Excellency, Lady Bowen, and family, and his Honor. The vice-regal party partook of lunch, strolled round the ring, and, afterwitneßsingtbe commencement i of the sports, returned to town, his Excellency expressing himself highly pleased with what he had seen. During the proceedings, his Honor the Superintendent mentioned that Mr B. C. Haggitt had been in communication with him, with a view tp gestujg a grant of land for the use of Friendly Sopiejties on occasions like the present, a proposal of which he heartily approved, and which he hoped to see realised ere another year passed ! by. At luncheon, Lady Bowen expressed her admiration for Dunedin and its surroundings 5 aljjo her appreciation of the warm, and cordial reception everywhere accorded to the Governor, herse#, and family. The reception of His Exeeljenpy over, the Managing Committee turned their attention to the advertised arrangements, which, on the whole, were successfully carried out. Games incidental to pic-nics, such as kiss in the ring, were started ; dancing was indulged in, while the more serious ones found pleasure in strolling about enjoying the scenery, which, at this place, is really pretty Our German friends, too, mustered in strong force, having amalgamated with the Oddfellows, ard helped to wjle awny the time by s,inging, in good time and with effect, "Die Wacht ani Rhine," and ; other' patriotic songs. At four o'clock the distribution of prizes took place. The' sports concluded at about fiye, the principal events resulting v follows :— Boys' Race, "350 yardg *~!gnnett, tjrit, <JO3 j Reeves, teqond,

10s (a very exciting contest). Picking up thirty stones, each a yard apart— Hutchinson, first, 21s ; Murray, Hi>eoud, 10s. Walking Race, one mile— Ealie, first, 30s ; Murray, second, 20s. Boys' Hace— Mallard, first, 10s ; M'Taggart, second, 7s 6d ; Tomkins, third, OS. Half-mile Race— Bourke, first, 30s ; Keeves, second, 20s. Breaking Pots, blintlfnlde.s— Main, first; Rushtou, second. Sack Race for Boys— Tomkins, first, 10s ; Main, second, ss. The return to town was conducted as expeditiously as was possible under tho circumsrance-<. Of course there was any amount of grumbling, some I people being unreasonable euough to imagine that all should have been back by one train. A rush for the carriages was the consequence; we saw great fellows selfish and ill-mannered enough to secure seats while women and children waited for places, and others scramblu in through the windows from off the platform aud opposita side, despite the repeated assurance of Mr Oliver and his hardworked assistants that, if only time were given them, places would befouud for as many as could, with comfort, be seated. The assurance, however, was little heeded ; and many had to wait rather longer than suited their patience or arrangements ; but, on the whole, the delay was taken iv good part. The railway people put on trucks, fitted -with, seats, and, by ei«kt o'clock- the last train reached town. The Oddfellows ought to feel satisfied with the succoss of their tete, and the railway people that their arrangements worked so well, nothing approaching an accident having occurred.